Level



No. 6l0,952. Patented Sept. 20, [898.

w. STETTLER & T. M. WILHELM.

LEVEL.

(Application filed Oct. 11, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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yr a -TATES] PATENT l l rricn.

PENNSYLVANIA.

LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,952, dated September 20, 1 8$ 8.

Application filed October 11,1897 Serial No. 654,820. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that We, WILLIAM STETTLER and THOMAS M. WILHELM, citizens of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of L'ehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Level, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to spirit-levels, and particularly to that class known as inclinometers, adapted for use as a level or as a plumb or for mitering or indicating the differ ent ratios of inclination in connection with grades, roofing-timbers, and the like.

The object in view is to provide a simple, compact, and eiiicient construction and arrangement of partsdesigned to facilitate the use of the bar or body portion of the level for the various purposes contemplated and to provide means whereby the instrument may be rectified or verified when out of adjust ment.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following descrip-v tion, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out p in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a level constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view of the same. Fig; 3 is a detail view of the index andbubble-glass detached from the bar. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the index and spindle detached from the other parts of the mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the bubble-glass and supporting-bracket. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the finger hold whereby the index is adjusted. Fig. 7 is a face view of the scale traversed by the index.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In a recess 1 formed in a level-bar or body portion 2 is arranged an adjustable index 8, adapted to traverse a scale l, preferably formed on a disk 5, which is arranged on the fioor' or inner wall of the recess 1. This index is provided with or fixed to a spindle 6, which extends rearwardly through'a suitable bearing 7 formed in the bar or body portion 2 and is terminally fitted with a finger-hold 8. This finger-hold consists of a nut removably secured to the spindle by means of a setscrew 9 and having an enlarged bore, 'in which is arranged a spring 10, which by hearing against the inner wall of the recess 11, in which the finger-hold is countersunk, holds the index in frictional contact with the scaledisk 5 to prevent accidental displacement thereof. Obviously the index may be turned to indicate any desired graduation of the scale, said movement being accomplished in opposition to the frictional resistance induced by the spring 10. The recess 11, in which the finger-hold is arranged to avoid projections from the surface" of the-bar 2, is open-sided; but the recess 1, in'which the index is located, is preferably provided with a transverse outer wall 12, of glass or itsequiv'alent, heldin place by a retaining-ring 13. This retaining-ring is preferably secured by such fastening devices as adapt it to be detached-namely, by screws 14--whereby the 'wall 12 of the recess may be displaced to give access to the interior of the latter. The retaining-ring 13 performs the additional function of holding the disk 5 in place by reason of a spacing-ring 12 which is interposed between the transparent wall 12 and the front surface of the disk 5 and forms the seat in which the edge of the glass or other transparent wall is fitted. The finger-hold 8 is preferably feathered or fitted upon a squaredor angular portion of the spindle 6, forming as'eat, such as that indicated at 15, such means preventing the independent rotation of the fingerhold and spindle and enabling rotary motion to be communicated from the former to the latter, while accidental displacement of the fingerhold may be prevented by means of a simple set-screw 9.

As instruments of the class to which our invention belongs are. liable to be put out of adjustment by jars or continued use, it becomes desirable to provide means whereby they may be rectified or j ustified, and hence we employ a bubble-glass 16, of the ordinary construction, mounted upon a tail or extension 17 013 the index for angular adjustment around the axis of the'spindlefi. Various means may be devised for arranging the bubble-glass in the desired angular position with relation to the index; but in the con struction illustrated the bubble-glass is pro vided with a bracket 18, secured to the index by means of a screw 19 or its equivalent-,which is located axially with relation to the indexspindle. Also the bracket is provided with an car 20, preferably below the bubble-glass, said ear having a slot 21 concentric with the axis of the index and engaged by a set-screw 22, which is threaded into a suitable opening 23 in the said tail or extension 17.

When an instrument constructed as described requires adjustment, it is simply necessary to gain access to the interior of the recess 1 by the removal of the exterior transparent wall 12 thereof, loosen the set-screw 22 sufficiently to release the bracket by which the bubble-glass is supported, move the bubble-glass until it occupies the desired position with relation to the index, and then return the set-screw 22 to its operative position. The desired adjustment of said bubble-glass with relation to the index may be ascertained by comparison with a correct instrument.

The disposition of the bubble-glass below the plane of the axis of movement of the index by the use of the depending bracket fulcrumed concentrically with the index enables us to utilize the bubble-glass as a weight to operate the index,thereby dispensing with other means,such as a fixed weight. Furthermore, we have found in practice that by arranging the bubble-glass below the plane of the axis of the index the proper adjustment of the bubble-glass with relation to the index is facilitated. This is due to the fact that a slight variation in the position of the index when delicately mounted will result from a change of position of the bubble in the glass; but when the bubble-glass is below the fulcrum of the index the effect of this change of position is reduced to the minimum and the index is maintained in stable equilibrium'during the necessary adjustment of the glass. Obviously this advantage resulting from the use in the position described of the bubbleglass is not of vital importance when the means above described are used for holding the index in frictional contact with the scale; but in case the device should be used without the means for securing said frictional contact or in case the pressure-spring should become weakened by use it will be seen that the arrangement of the bubble-glass below the axis of movement will provide for efficient operation without the inconvenience incident to disposing the bubble-glass so as to partly neutralize the weight of the lower end of the index. v

In order to facilitate the indication of inclinations per foot or other unit of linear measurement, we preferably graduate the scale 4 in such a way as to lay off twenty-four intervals between Zero degrees and forty-five degrees, or between the radial lines marked Level or Plumb and Miter on the plan view, Fig. 7. This plan of graduation enables the operator to arrange the bar of the instrument at any desired inclination per foot from one-half inch upward. If the index is arranged at the first graduation from the zero-line marked Level, it will show that it is arranged at one twenty-fourth of that inclination, shown by the miter-line of forty-five degrees, which would be necessary to indicate a rise of twelve inches to the foot. Hence the inclination indicated by the bar when the index is at the first graduation from the zero or level line (the bubble-glass being level) would be one twenty-fourth of one foot, or one-half inch, rise per foot of run.

A construction such as that specified enables an artisan to lay off roof-timbers with accuracy without calculations as to the angles and also enables plumbers and others to locate pipes, floors, 850., at desired inclinations or falls.

By the arrangement of the set-screw 22 upon the central longitudinal line of the index and mounting the bubble-glasssupporting bracket concentrically with the index, all necessity for providing counterbalancing devices for the index is avoided.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim is 1. A leveling instrument having a rotary index mounted to traverse a graduated scale, a bubble-glass having an attached bracket mounted upon and coaxially with the index, and depending from the axis thereof for an gular adjustment in a plane parallel with that of the index and independently of the same, and a setscrew carried by and arranged upon the central longitudinal line of the index and engaging a slotted ear of said bracket, substantially as specified.

2. A leveling instrument having a bar provided in opposite sides with recesses, one of which is open-sided, and the other of which is interiorly visible, an index mounted in the interiorly-visible recess to traverse a graduated scale and carrying a bubble-glass, the spindle of said index extending into said open-sided recess, and a spring-pressed finger-hold carried by the spindle of the index in the open-sided recess to provide for adj ustment of the index by exposed means, substantially as specified.

3. A leveling instrument having a bar provided with a graduated scale, a pointer carrying a bubble-glass and mounted to traverse said scale, the pointer having a spindle, a finger-hold fitted upon the spindle of the index to facilitate rotary adjustment thereof, and a spring cooperating with the finger-hold to maintain the index in frictional contact with ifihei surface of the scale, substantially as speci- 4. A leveling instrument having a bar provided in opposite sides with recesses, a scalethe index to facilitate adjustment thereof, substantially as specified.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto affixed our signatures 15 in the presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM STETTLER. THOMAS M. WILHELM.

Witnesses:

ALLAN H. SIEGER, EMERSON F. SoHooK. 

